Lonsdale Council hears EDA Streetscape plan

There's a good chance that everything could soon be coming up roses at the intersection of Central St. (State Hwy. 19) and Main Street in Lonsdale. At the regular meeting of the Lonsdale City Council held Thursday, Feb. 14, City Administrator Joel Erickson presented the Streetscape plan, which was developed by the EDA to bring more attention and presence to Main Street.

Two options were presented to the council that involve "bumping out" the four corners of the intersection onto Main St. and filling them with rows of flowers and shrubs. The plans includes stamped and stained concrete sidewalks in front of each landscaped area, along with a bench to add a park-like feel downtown. The improvements also address striping the parking spaces on Main Street.

Option 1 of the Streetscape plan offers large rectangular shaped landscaped flower beds in what is currently the roadway in front of the yellow painted curbs on Main St., extending into current parking areas on each corner. This plan eliminates four parking stalls per corner. The cost was estimated by the city's engineering firm, WSB & Associates, to be around $128,100 for the four intersection bump-outs. To add the same landscaping at the ends of Main St., where it intersects Alabama St. on the south side, and Railway Street on the north, the cost would be around $200,700.

The second option was favored over the first due to the rounded shape of the raised landscaping that then angle at the same degree as the proposed angled striping. Erickson explained that this option would reduce parking by only one or two stalls per corner. 

"We are very cognizant of parking needs downtown," Erickson said, adding that with option two, the angled parking would allow for a total of about 80 parking spaces. This option was estimated to cost around $130,500 for the four at the intersection, and if additional landscaped bump-outs are added at the ends of Main Street, the cost would be around $216,600. Erickson was clear in stating that all funding for the project, if approved, will come from the Lonsdale EDA and not from the city's General Fund.

Council members questioned the condition of the sidewalks downtown, concerned that they should also be included in the Streetscape plan. After some discussion it was decided to add all new downtown sidewalks to the plan as an alternate bid. 

Before this plan is approved and sent for bids, an informational meeting with downtown business owners is being held at 7 a.m. on Thursday morning, Feb. 21, at City Hall. 

If it is eventually approved by the council, Erickson said it would be completed in time for Lonsdale Community Days, August 9-11.